Teachers get 'A' for sharing

Within an hour Monday night, Vallejo's teachers handed out more than 120 free school supplies kits during the first of four giveaways this week.

"I think the teachers are doing great," said Vallejo resident Albert Cusseaux, who brought his 8-year-old neighbor to the Vallejo Education Association's giveaway at John F. Kennedy Library on Monday.

The teachers have put together $12,000 worth of school supplies into kits for 2,000 Vallejo students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

"I definitely see that there is a need," said Vallejo Education Association President Christal Watts in between rushes of parents and students.

The downstairs corridor outside the children's area of the library was crowded with thankful parents and eager students, who dug through mounds of free books donated by the Friends of the Vallejo Public Libraries.

"That's nice and I'd like to thank them," Cusseaux's neighbor, Christian Romero, said of the teachers' generosity.

Romero, a third-grader at Grace Patterson Elementary School, said he likes to read adventure books. Nidia Avila, 11, and her brother Ricardo, 8, each left with several books to read: Chapter books for Nidia and shorter stories for Ricardo who also likes cookbooks, his mother said.

Teachers from various district schools helped students pick grade-appropriate books, from Ann M. Martin's "The Baby-sitters Club" series for middle-schoolers to Bernard Waber's "An Anteater Named Arthur" for elementary school students.

Vallejo independent study teacher Jerri Durbin-Brown said it feels good to see that part of her teachers union dues are providing supplies for students in need.

Cave Elementary School kindergarten teacher Loree Tackmier said at this point in the school year, many students have used up the crayons and other materials they began with in August.

Some students would pick up the free supplies and say, "Now we have pencils," said Vallejo independent study teacher Leonard Cayabyab.

The giveaway continues from 4 to 6:30 tonight at the Continentals of Omega Boys and Girls Club, 555 Corcoran Avenue.

Vallejo teachers have been passing out fliers to their students, which they will need to bring in order to pick up a free kit. The supplies are first-come, first-served.